Improvement in stamp-canceling devices



0. 0. EGERTON, M. & T. SNELL. Stamp-Canceling Device.

No. 223,035. Patented Dec. 30,1879.

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O. CALVERT EGERTON AND MUNROE SNELL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

AND THEODORE SNELL, OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE- THIRD OF THEIR RIGHT TO JAMES FRYER, OF BALTIMORE COUNTY,

MARYLAND IMPROVEMENT IN STAMP-CANCELING DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,035, dated December 30, 1879 application filed Jul 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, 0. CALVERT EGERTON and MUNROE SNELL, of the city of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and State of Mary land, and THEODORE SNELL, of the city of Toronto, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stamp-Canceling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for canceling internal-revenue stamps, such as are affixed to barrels and casks of liquor, beer,

&c., and boxes of tobacco, and is an improvement on that class of canceling devices which combine a screw with a rotating scratchingplate.

The object of the invention is to so inclose the head of the screw in the canceling-plate as to render it impossible for the devices which prevent the reverse rotation of the screw to be tampered with, thereby insuring the canceler to operate upon the slightest attempt to Withdraw the screw.

The invention will first be described, and then designated in the claims.

Figure l is a vertical section of the rotating canceling-plate. Fig. 2 is a view of the screw. Fig. 3 is another form of screw. Fig. 4 is a screw-retaining ring. Fig. 5 is a divided retaining-ring. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of the complete device. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the rotating cancelingplate. Fig. 8 represents a portion of the head of a cask with the socket-plate of the canceler attached.

A represents the canceling-plate, provided on its lower face with tangs or scratchers a. On the upper side of this plate is a counterbore, as shown in Fig. 1, the rim 1) of which, in the first stage of manufacture, projects upward. An annular seat, 0, is provided within the counterbore, and an ordinary bevel countersink, d. Grepresents a screw adapted for this device. In Fig. 2 the head is similar to an ordinary screw, except it is provided on top with a smaller raised and half-rounding head, 6. In Fig.3 the top of the head is halfrounding, and next to the screw part is beveling, the same as an ordinary screw. The head, however, is provided with a circumferen tial groove,f. In addition to these special forms of screws those having heads like ordinary wood-screws may be used.

Fig. 4 represents a metal retaining-ring, h,

for use with common screws, or for such as the one shown in Fig. 2; and Fig.5 represents a retaining-ring split or cut in two equal parts for use with the grooved screw shown in Fig. 3. The screw shown in Fig. 3 and ring shown in Fig. 5 are esteemed to be equivalent of the other form shown.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the entire device will be seen in vertical section. The screw head fits the countersink in the upper side of the plate, and the retaining-ring h rests on the annular seat 0, and covers the rabbet or top part of the screw-head. The upward-projecting part b of the rim is swaged down on and over the ring h, and.the screw is thus secured from possibility of withdrawal from the canceler-plate A, but its rotation in one direction is not interfered with.

The ring may possibly be dispensed with, and by suitable tools the rim part b may be closed down and over the rabbeted part of screw-head, and thus serve the same purpose.

The manner herein described for securing the screwliead renders it impossible to tamper with the device from its upper side.

Upon the lower side is a chamber, 6, in which are two channels or grooves, n, parallel to each other. These channels are wider at one end than at the other, the narrow end of one being opposite the wide end of the other. A tapering or wedge-shaped stop-block, p, provided on one side with serrations or teeth, is adapted to slide in each channel, and a spring, r, is fitted in the wide end of the channel, and placed so as to press on the large end of the stop-block. By this arrangement each tapering stop-block is constantly forced toward the narrow end of its channel, and in this manner the serrated edge of each stop is brought against or in contact with the screw G on opposite sides.

It will be understood that any rotation of the screw in one direction (to the right) will tend to push the serrated blocks back against the spring; but an attempt to rotate the screw in the opposite direction (to the left) will cause the serrated stop-blocks to bind with such effeet against the screw as to prevent it from turning.

The chamber '6, in which these stop devices are inclosed, is covered and protected by the plate S, which fits within a flange surrounding the chamber, and said flange is swaged down over the edge of the plate.

The wedgeshaped stop-blocks herein described, as a means to prevent the reverse rotation of the screw, have the advantage over other mechanical devices of operating effectually, without requiring that they shallfit in their position with exactness.

This construction is such that it is impossible to tamper with the screw or the stop devices that operate in connection with it wi hout breaking or mutilatiug the device, so as to make exposure inevitable.

The stationary scratch-plate M is provided with a socket, to, internally threaded, or the socket may be separate from the plate. This plate is secured to the barrel-head, which is bored partly through to admit the socket part, and the revenue-stamp is affixed to the head so as to cover the plate.

By inserting into the socket the screw of the rotating canceler the screw may, by a screwdriver, be driven down without rotatin g the canceling-plate A, until the scratehers to penetrate the revenue-stamp. This having been done, the stamp is certain to be canceled and destroyed upon removing the screw.

We claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. In a device for canceling stamps, the COlllbination, with the screw G, of the cancelingplate A, provided with scratchers, and having on its upper side a countersink, within which is an annular seat, 0, and aretaining-ringcovering the top of the rim of the screw-head, and the rim of the countersink swaged over the retaining-ring, as set forth.

- 2. In a device for canceling stamps, the combination, with the screw G, of the cancelingplate A. having inclosed therein two channels or grooves, n, in which the wedge-shaped stopblocks 19, having one side serrated, are adapted to slide, and the springs r placed so as to press on the large end of the stop-block, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands at Baltimore, Maryland, this 4th day ofApi-il, 1879.

O. CALVERT EGERTON. MUNROE SNELL. Witnesses:

CHAS. B. MANN, CHAS. E. LEWIS.

In witness whereof I, THEODORE SNELL, have hereunto set my hand at the city of Toronto, in the county of York, this 24th day of April, A. D. 1879.

THEODORE SNELL.

Witnesses as to signature of Theodore Snell:

GEo. D. BEATTY, JAMES S. FULLERTON. 

